Iconic Music Themes in Film

To commemorate the release of Score: A Film Music Documentary, coming to select theaters on June 16 from Gravitas Venturas, World Film Geek takes a look at some of the most iconic theme music from cinema that still holds its own today. The music heard in films are a driving force in cinema.

Music can build up tension, motivates the protagonist, or even brings scares to its viewers, all depending on the genre. These themes come in no particular order, but they are perhaps the most well-known theme music scores in cinematic history. They are brought courtesy of YouTube for your listening pleasure so take a listen at some of these iconic theme songs from some of the great films in cinema today.

They can either be an opening theme, an ending theme, or one played midway. Either way, these are some of the big themes and scores that defined their films.

King Kong (1933) – composed by Max Steiner

Tara’s Theme from Gone with the Wind (1939) – composed by Max Steiner

Psycho (1960) – composed by Bernard Herrmann

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966) – composed by Ennio Morricone

The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966) – composed by Ennio Morricone

La Caccia from The Big Gundown (1966) – composed by Ennio Morricone

Jaws (1975) – composed by John Williams

Gonna Fly Now from Rocky (1976) – composed by Bill Conti

Star Wars (1977) – composed by John Williams

Superman (1978) – composed by John Williams

Indiana Jones (1982) from Raiders of the Lost Ark – composed by John Williams